Published Mostly Weekly by the
Bangor Area Breakfast Rotary Club
www.bangorbreakfastrotary.org
March 15, 2012
Sole soul proprietor
I
magine.
Your office is located in a lovely lodge. You look out on gently hilly,
meticulously maintained grounds. You are surrounded by about 33,000
individuals, none of whom are boisterous, noisy or complain to you about your
“management style.”
So describes, in a simple way, the site where Stephen Burrill, Superintendent of
Mount Hope Cemetery Corporation and Crematory in
Bangor, spends his days, and perhaps some nights,
watching over 266 acres that serve as a final resting place.
Mount Hope Cemetery ranks among the earliest of
American garden cemeteries. “I am the sole proprietor,”
he said. “I develop underground real estate.”
Kristin Segee invited Mr. Burrill to describe the
cemetery and its history. He noted that Mt. Hope is selfsustaining, using only interest from an endowment fund
that was established in 1930. The grounds that we admire
are maintained by a staff that invests 30,000 man-hours to
keep grass mowed, leaves raked, roads plowed and trees
trimmed.
Mr. Burrill is the third generation of Mt. Hope
superintendents. Many generations are recorded in two
books telling of the history of the cemetery. The first, a
valuable volume if you can find one, covers the
cemetery’s history through the early 1900’s. In 1995 Charles Bragg II suggested writing a
history of Mt. Hope’s 20th century. Later John Bragg urged writing a complete history of
the cemetery, and Mr. Burrill showed both books.
“There are four cemeteries within Mt. Hope,” he said. “We have never been
vandalized,” although the iron fence has taken some beating from motorists who skid into
it.
Mr. Burrill has worked assiduously to create an on-line record of who is buried at Mt.
Hope. Some records are missing from the late1800’s. Working like a sleuth on a variation
of the old joke, “Who’s buried in Grant’s Tomb?”, Mr. Burrill’s list gives many details
about the interred and who's buried in the sarcophagus. Civil War generals, a vicepresident or two, many prominent Bangor-area citizens and a 26-year-old named Al
Brady, public enemy #1. From the Mt. Hope Interment Records:
BRADY, ALFRED JAMES
Died in BANGOR, ME on Oct-12-1937. Buried at MT HOPE CEMETERY on Oct-151937. SON DANIEL LEROY & ZELIA CLARA (PORTWOOD) BRADY
Age at Death 26 Years 11 months 17 days
Lot 2119PG
Announcements and Pronouncements
President Jay Muth rang a bell at 7:15 that had a different timbre. It actually belongs
to the Old Town Rotary Club where he visited last week for a Zone 9 meeting and
smuggled it out of the room.
All That Jazz happens next Thursday night at 7 pm at Peakes Auditorium. Bruce
Roscher still needs a few volunteers to help toward the end of the program when voting
takes place.
Ann Dyer prognosticated the weather and Jeff O’Sullivan did likewise in his market
report. Steve Andrew talked about the causes of “emotional eating” (this, after we had
consumed breakfast). He cited a study on Finnish women that revealed those causes.
Greg Urban asked if anyone studied finished women.
Speaking of emotional eating, excitement will be high for the Maine Chef Challenge
at Eastern Maine Community College Friday, March 23. Check-in & Social Hour 5:30
pm - 6:30 pm; Maine Chef Challenge 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm. in the Johnston Gym.
New dad Joe Quirk said that his wife is returning to work and his schedule will have
to be flexible as they seek a babysitter for daytime tending.
This is Judy Horan’s birthday month. The Tunemeisters Trio didn’t have three, so
singing to Judy will occur later.
Lots of thanks: Bruce Roscher for a fine trip to Philadelphia for the flower show;
Lisa Wahlstrom for the $1,270 collected in ads for the All That Jazz program booklet.
Oliver Farinholt gave a Sad$ for his attorney whose prostate cancer returned for the
second time.
Les Myers- March 15, 2012
Proposed new member
Kenneth Nagle
President, Cigaret Shopper
Sponsor: Steve Harrison